Family Fighting to Keep 2-Year-Old Boy Declared Brain Dead on Life Support

A Vacaville family of a 2-year-old boy on life support has been given more time to find a hospital willing to treat him despite being declared brain dead. Chuck Coppola reports. (Published Friday, May 20, 2016)

A Vacaville family of a 2-year-old boy on life support has been given more time to find a hospital willing to treat him despite being declared brain dead.

But the time is very limited. Legal advocates for the family have just this weekend to prepare their plan for review by a federal appeals court.

But a San Francisco federal appeals court prevented the hospital from pulling the plug. Israel's parents and supporters have until Monday to convince the court that they know a hospital willing to treat the toddler.

"It means we still have time. They won't pull the plug," said Jonee Fonseca, the boy's mother.

The case is similar to Jahi McMath, who was declared brain dead after surgery to correct sleep apnea. Advocates for the parents say at stake is the process patients in California are declared brain dead.

"The hospital declared him brain dead before he showed signs of improvement," said Alexandra Snyder, executive director for Napa-based Life Legal Defense Foundation. "So then it could argue that it didn't have to treat him."

Kaiser Permanente in statement said "We will continue to work to facilitate the family's request to transfer Israel to another facility, if another placement is identified."